Panama Emerges as a Prime Location for Close-To-Nature, Low-Density Resort Development

Panama Emerges as a Prime Location for Close-To-Nature, Low-Density Resort
Development

CHICAGO, Nov. 5 /PRNewswire/ -- Trendsetters in environmentally responsible
real estate development are discovering the many benefits of constructing
low-density resorts in emerging markets like Panama.

Some savvy resort developers are responding to recent customer demands for
exceptional natural experiences without sacrificing profitability. The key is
emerging markets. Mature tourism markets have high land prices that make
low-density development an unprofitable option. This results in higher-density
developments, like high-rise beach hotels, which don't offer the seclusion
many travelers demand. In contrast, low-density development is easy to
accomplish in a destination like Panama, which is just recently emerging as a
tourist destination and where land is still inexpensive. "There is pressure to
discover the new location, to find the unspoiled beach and create value and
outperform the market," said Liam Bailey, head of residential research for
Knight Frank, in a recent New York Times article.

"Land prices in first-tier markets are such that developers are forced to cram
20-40 units per acre at least, or else build ultra-luxury products that only a
fraction of a percent of the population can afford," says Ben Loomis,
President of Amble Resorts, an ecologically sensitive real estate development
company. Loomis is preparing to break ground next year on The Resort at Isla
Palenque, a private, environmentally friendly island resort community located
in Panama's Gulf of Chiriqui.

Popular eco tourism destinations like Costa Rica became well-known by offering
secluded, natural experiences, but are now too mature to make that profitable.
"Land prices there quickly reached the point where you have to build 7-story
buildings to make the numbers work," says Loomis. "By buying our island in
Panama before the area became well-known, we were able to achieve a price that
will allow us to keep the majority of the island as a nature preserve and
develop at densities of less than one unit per acre."

Low-density resorts do more than offer premium experiences for their customers
and profitability for their investors, they are more sustainable. In a recent
study on Low and Medium Density Development, Landscape Architects Wes Michaels
and Ebru Ozer found that, "Mid-sized resorts offer more opportunities to
balance the demands of resort tourism with the environment and the cultural
needs of the local population... The environmental savings are also beneficial
for the economic vitality of the individual resorts as well as the long term
sustainability of the entire region in relationship to tourism." Responsible
developers agree. "What's really great is that we can have a much more
beneficial impact on the local community," says Loomis.

Photos:
http://www.ereleases.com/pr/2009-AmbleResorts.jpg

http://www.ereleases.com/pr/2009-Isla-Palenque-Resort.jpg

About Isla Palenque

Amble Resorts' new Panama real estate project, The Resort at Isla Palenque,
will be a secluded and sustainable resort community with a unique boutique
hotel, ingeniously designed residences, and sumptuous amenities. For more
information about Amble Resorts or their new island resort, Isla Palenque,
visit http://www.islapalenque.com.

Media contact: Frances Limoncelli, Marketing Manager, fml@amble.com,
773-769-1145.

Photos by Elliott Photographic.

This release was issued through eReleases(TM). For more information, visit
http://www.ereleases.com.

SOURCE Amble Resorts

Frances Limoncelli, Marketing Manager of Amble Resorts, +1-773-769-1145,
fml@amble.com